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Сооснователь и бывший директор криптобиржи BitMEX Артур Хейс (Arthur Hayes) заявил, что биткоин, вероятно, достигнет нового исторического максимума в этом году. Причина грядущего ралли — расширение долларовой ликвидности на рынках.

Ripple announced Wednesday that it has received a preliminary Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license from Luxembourg’s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). This follows on the heels of a similar license and Crypto asset Registration given by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) last Friday.

EU Regulatory Progress

In its press release, Ripple emphasized that these new licenses contribute to its extensive portfolio, now exceeding 75 regulatory approvals worldwide, positioning Ripple as one of the most licensed cryptocurrency companies globally. 

Monica Long, President of Ripple, remarked on the significance of the European Union’s evolving stance regarding digital assets: 

The EU was among the first major jurisdictions to introduce comprehensive digital assets regulation, which provides the certainty that financial institutions need to transition from pilot programs to large-scale commercial operations. 

By expanding its licensing capabilities and refining its payment solutions, the crypto giant aims to facilitate the movement of value and unlock what it describes as “trillions of dollars in dormant capital,” pushing legacy financial systems into a digital era.

Cassie Craddock, Managing Director for the UK and Europe at Ripple, echoed this sentiment, praising Luxembourg’s progressive regulatory environment toward digital assets stating: 

Thanks to the CSSF’s sophisticated supervisory approach, Luxembourg is establishing itself as a hub for financial innovation by delivering the harmonized framework and legal certainty that our industry requires.

She highlighted that this preliminary approval is a crucial milestone, enabling Ripple to offer essential blockchain infrastructure to clients throughout the European Union. 

The preliminary approval, which arrives in the form of a ‘Green Light Letter’ from the CSSF, represents a vital step towards Ripple securing its full EMI authorization, contingent upon meeting specific conditions.

Ripple Highlights UK As Key Market

In its recent announcement regarding the UK, Ripple underscored the importance of the country in its broader global strategy, noting that London houses its largest office outside the United States since 2016. 

Notably, the company has demonstrated its commitment to the UK market through ongoing investments, which include a growing workforce and support for the local blockchain and developer ecosystem. 

Additionally, Ripple has contributed significantly to UK-based blockchain developers and startups, as well as committing over £5 million to UK universities through its flagship University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) program.

In a statement addressing these developments, Stuart Alderoty, Chief Legal Officer at Ripple, expressed pride in the progress made with the EMI license and Cryptoasset Registration from the FCA: 

This is yet another major step forward, and it signals positive momentum for the UK’s digital assets industry, underscoring Ripple’s licensing achievements globally. 

At the time of writing, XRP was trading at $2.1485, up slightly more than 3% in the past 24 hours as the broader crypto market has recovered since the start of the year. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

The cryptocurrency market is showing signs of short-term relief as Bitcoin and major altcoins attempt to stabilize after weeks of sustained selling pressure. Prices have rebounded modestly across the board, easing some of the recent bearish momentum. However, sentiment remains fragile. Many analysts argue that this move fits the profile of a relief rally rather than the start of a durable trend reversal, pointing to still-weak market structure and unresolved macro and regulatory risks.

Against this backdrop, a draft market structure bill released by the US Senate is drawing significant attention.  The proposed framework represents a potential structural shift in how crypto assets are treated within the US financial system.

The bill aims to clearly differentiate which crypto assets fall under the definition of commodities and which qualify as securities, while assigning regulatory oversight accordingly. Until now, the US regulatory approach has largely relied on enforcement actions, creating uncertainty for investors, developers, and institutions alike. By outlining classification criteria in advance, the proposal seeks to reduce ambiguity and provide a cleaner operating environment.

As markets digest this information, the focus is shifting from headline-driven volatility toward longer-term structural implications. Whether this regulatory clarity translates into sustained confidence remains an open question.

Regulatory Clarity Signals a Shift

A report from XWIN Research Japan highlights a critical nuance in the latest US market structure proposal: fully decentralized networks and DeFi protocols are not treated as traditional financial intermediaries. Developers, validators, and node operators are not automatically classified as regulated entities, signaling a formal recognition of decentralization as a core structural attribute rather than a loophole to be closed.

This distinction is meaningful, as it reduces legal uncertainty for open-source contributors and preserves the permissionless nature of decentralized infrastructure.

In contrast, centralized entities face a more clearly defined regulatory perimeter. Exchanges, brokers, and custodians are expected to comply with stricter rules on registration, asset segregation, and disclosure. Rather than targeting innovation, these requirements appear designed to professionalize market infrastructure and align centralized crypto businesses with existing financial standards.

Within this framework, Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, and spot ETFs are implicitly assumed to remain integrated into the US financial system, reinforcing their status as legitimate financial instruments.

On-chain data already reflects this transition. Metrics from CryptoQuant show that near the $90,000 Bitcoin level, retail activity remains muted while mid- and large-sized spot orders dominate. This pattern suggests neither speculative excess nor panic-driven exits, but measured positioning by larger investors.

Taken together, these signals imply a market gradually shifting from reactive, headline-driven behavior toward a more structure-driven phase. Regulatory clarity may not spark immediate price moves, but it is already influencing how capital positions itself across the crypto landscape.

Total Crypto Market Cap Enters Consolidation Phase

The total cryptocurrency market capitalization chart shows a market in consolidation after an aggressive multi-quarter expansion. Following the strong advance from late 2023 into mid-2025, total market cap peaked near the $3.8–$4.0 trillion zone before entering a corrective phase. Since then, price action has transitioned into a broad range, with higher volatility compressing into a more orderly structure.

Currently, the total market cap is hovering around the $3.2 trillion level, which aligns with a key former resistance zone that has now acted as support multiple times. The weekly structure suggests a cooling phase rather than a breakdown. Price remains above the rising 200-week moving average, which continues to slope upward and reinforces the idea that the primary market trend is still constructive.

Shorter-term moving averages have flattened, reflecting indecision and reduced momentum after the earlier impulsive move. Volume has declined from peak levels, indicating that aggressive distribution pressure has eased, but strong expansion demand has not yet returned. This combination is typical of mid-cycle consolidation rather than terminal weakness.

From a structural perspective, the market is digesting prior gains while maintaining a higher-low framework relative to previous cycles. A sustained hold above the $3.0 trillion region keeps the broader bullish structure intact. However, failure to defend this zone would expose the market to deeper retracements toward long-term trend support.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Visa has partnered with BVNK to bring stablecoin payments to the Visa Direct platform, expanding its digital payments infrastructure.

BVNK Will Power Visa Direct’s Stablecoin Infrastructure

As announced in a Wednesday press release, BVNK and Visa have formed a strategic partnership to enable stablecoin payments on the latter’s Visa Direct platform. Based in the US, Visa is the second-largest card payment organization globally, behind only China’s UnionPay. In fact, when excluding China, the firm is the single largest, making up for 50% of total card payments.

Lately, Visa has been exploring digital asset payments, particularly those involving stablecoins, in a bid to modernize money movement. In 2025, the payments giant ran multiple stablecoin pilots related to Visa Direct, its $1.7 trillion real-time global payouts platform.

Now, it seems Visa has taken the next step by partnering with BVNK, a stablecoin infrastructure provider processing over $30 billion in payments annually. Mark Nelsen, Visa’s head of product, commercial, and money movement, said:

Stablecoins are an exciting opportunity for global payments, with enormous potential to reduce friction and expand access to faster, more efficient payment options – including during weekends, holidays and when banks are closed.

Starting with markets with strong demand for digital payments, BVNK will power a few different Visa Direct services, including stablecoin pre-funding and payouts. Visa’s new deal with BVNK hasn’t come out of the blue. Back in May 2025, Visa Ventures made an investment in the digital asset payments rail company. Jesse Hemson-Struthers, BVNK CEO, noted:

Visa and BVNK both believe in the transformational potential of stablecoin technology, not just as a payment method, but as a powerful layer of payments infrastructure.

Following the initial rollout, a broader global expansion of the service is planned, but so far, it’s unconfirmed which markets will be included, only that Visa will decide it based on “customer needs.” Stablecoins have witnessed growing adoption during the past year, as multiple countries have pushed on with legislation related to the sector. Among the most notable developments was the signing of the GENIUS Act by US President Donald Trump.

According to a report from Bloomberg, total stablecoin transaction volume rose 72% to $33 trillion in 2025, a new record.

Tether’s USDT is the largest fiat-tied cryptocurrency based on market cap, with a valuation that’s more than double Circle’s USDC, but the latter still dominated in transactions during 2025. USDC made up for $18.3 trillion of the total volume, while USDT accounted for $13.3 trillion.

Together, the two tokens covered an extreme majority of the total volume last year, suggesting that activity related to other dollar-pegged tokens and non-USD stablecoins remained low.

Bitcoin Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $95,000, up more than 3% over the past week.

Ethereum is showing tentative signs of relief after weeks of downside pressure, but the recovery remains fragile. The price is currently struggling to push decisively above the $3,400 level, a zone that has repeatedly acted as resistance during recent attempts to rebound. While short-term sentiment has improved alongside broader market stabilization, risks remain elevated. Several analysts warn that Ethereum could still face further declines in the coming weeks if momentum fades and macro or liquidity conditions deteriorate again.

Adding complexity to the picture, derivatives data suggest a renewed buildup of risk. A report from Arab Chain highlights that Ethereum’s open interest on Binance has climbed to approximately $8.6 billion, its highest level since October 9.

This marks a notable shift after a prolonged period of contraction following the sharp liquidation event in October, when open interest collapsed from above $10 billion to below $7 billion in a matter of days. That episode flushed excessive leverage from the market and forced traders into a defensive stance.

The current rise in open interest signals that traders are gradually returning and rebuilding positions at lower price levels. However, this also increases the price’s sensitivity to sudden moves.

Ethereum Derivatives Activity Rebuilds Confidence

Ethereum is currently testing a key structural resistance zone around $3,400, and the latest derivatives data adds important context to this price behavior. According to the CryptoQuant report by Arab Chain, the rise in open interest on Binance reflects renewed activity in the derivatives market and a clear return of traders’ appetite for leverage. This is a notable shift from the defensive posture seen after the October liquidation wave.

What stands out is that this increase in open interest is occurring while ETH trades near the $3,300–$3,400 area, well below its previous cycle highs. This suggests that traders are not chasing price at extremes, but instead building positions at relatively discounted levels. Historically, this type of positioning often reflects expectations of a medium-term upside move rather than short-term speculation.

At the same time, the fact that open interest has reached its highest level since October 9 without returning to prior overheated extremes points to a more balanced recovery. If this growth is driven by steady inflows rather than aggressive leverage, it supports the idea of a healthier market structure forming after the post-liquidation contraction phase.

However, risks remain asymmetric near resistance. A continued and rapid expansion in open interest while price stalls below $3,400 could increase vulnerability to sharp volatility. For Ethereum to sustain momentum, price and open interest must remain aligned, confirming that confidence is rebuilding rather than overstretching.

Price Faces Key Resistance Level

Ethereum price action on the daily chart shows a market attempting to recover, but still constrained by heavy structural resistance near the $3,400 region. After a sharp decline from the October highs, ETH established a local bottom below $2,900 and has since been forming higher lows, suggesting short-term stabilization rather than a confirmed trend reversal.

Price is currently trading near $3,300, where multiple technical factors converge. The descending 200-day moving average and prior horizontal support-turned-resistance are capping upside momentum. Each rally into this zone has met selling pressure, highlighting that this area remains a critical supply region. The inability to reclaim $3,400 decisively keeps the broader structure neutral-to-bearish.

On the downside, the rising short-term moving average and recent higher lows around $3,000–$3,050 provide initial support. As long as ETH holds above this range, the market maintains a constructive consolidation structure rather than resuming the prior impulsive downtrend. Volume has remained moderate during the recovery, indicating controlled participation rather than aggressive speculative buying.

ETH is compressing between rising short-term support and declining long-term resistance. This type of price behavior often precedes a directional move. A clean daily close above $3,400 would signal a shift in market control and open the door for a broader recovery.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Dogecoin and XRP have come under heightened regulatory scrutiny following the release of new draft language in the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which proposes a framework that could classify them alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum. Rather than relying on subjective debates over network decentralization or token utility, the draft ties legal treatment to whether an asset underpins a listed exchange-traded product. This represents a significant shift in how major altcoins may be handled moving forward.

What The Latest Draft Signals For Dogecoin And XRP

On January 13, 2026, journalist Eleanor Terrett highlighted a section of the latest Digital Asset Market Clarity Act draft that sets a clear rule for “network tokens.” It states that a token will not be classified as an ancillary asset or considered a security if, by January 1, 2026, it serves as the primary asset of an exchange-traded product listed on a US national securities exchange.

This condition is critical because it directly affects compliance obligations. Tokens that qualify under this standard would not be required to file the disclosures mandated for other digital assets under the bill. In effect, the draft establishes a regulatory shortcut for tokens that achieve a defined level of institutional recognition through listed exchange-traded products registered under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Under this structure, assets such as XRP, Dogecoin, Solana, Litecoin, Hedera, and Chainlink would enter the framework on the same footing as Bitcoin and Ethereum from day one, provided the exchange-traded product requirement is met. For Dogecoin and XRP specifically, this represents a tangible route out of prolonged legal uncertainty. Their legal status would hinge on verifiable market structure rather than subjective regulatory interpretation, giving investors, exchanges, and institutional participants a clearer standard for compliance and market engagement.

How The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act Took Shape

The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act was introduced in the US House of Representatives in 2025 as lawmakers sought to address years of fragmented crypto oversight. The bill was developed under the leadership of the House Financial Services Committee.

Throughout 2025, lawmakers circulated multiple discussion drafts to regulators, industry groups, and legal experts. These drafts aimed to replace enforcement-driven policy with statutory definitions, including the concept of “network tokens,” which form the backbone of the current proposal. The January 2026 draft reflects a later stage in that process, focusing on implementation thresholds rather than broad regulatory theory.

While the Act has not yet been passed into law, it has advanced through committee review and remains a central reference point in ongoing market-structure negotiations. Its significance lies in the predictability it introduces. For Dogecoin and XRP, the bill does not promise immediate relief, but it sets a transparent standard for achieving regulatory parity. That shift alone alters how these assets are evaluated by exchanges, institutional issuers, and investors navigating the US digital asset landscape.

After months of steady declines and fading enthusiasm, Dogecoin (DOGE) is showing signs of renewed life. The meme-based cryptocurrency has recently stabilized near the $0.14–$0.15 range, breaking out of a short-term downtrend and attracting fresh speculative interest.

Related Reading: Crypto Users Hit By 1,400% Surge In Impersonation Scams, Research Shows

While broader crypto markets remain mixed, DOGE’s price action suggests that selling pressure has eased, creating room for short-term momentum to build.

Dogecoin is trading around $0.148, supported by higher trading volumes and improving technical indicators. The move comes as traders rotate into high-beta assets, such as meme coins, particularly when Bitcoin trades sideways, and macro catalysts are limited.

Selling Pressure Eases as Dogecoin Price Finds Support

Dogecoin’s recent stabilization follows a prolonged selloff from October highs, which pushed the price toward the $0.13 zone. That decline flushed out leveraged positions and cooled speculative activity.

In recent sessions, however, DOGE has reclaimed short-term support near $0.14 and briefly touched $0.147, signaling a slowdown in aggressive downside momentum.

On the daily chart, the price remains below key long-term moving averages, indicating a cautious broader trend. Still, DOGE has moved back above its 20-day and 50-day averages, levels many short-term traders watch for early signs of trend shifts.

Momentum indicators also point to stabilization. The RSI has climbed from oversold territory into neutral levels, suggesting buyers are returning without pushing the market into overheated conditions. While spot outflows continue, derivatives data show rising open interest, indicating traders are positioning for near-term volatility.

Speculative Interest Returns to Meme Coins

The recent rally is not limited to Dogecoin. Other meme tokens, including Pepe, have also posted sharp gains, reflecting a broader return of speculative appetite. CoinGecko’s GMCI Meme Index has climbed in tandem with rising trading volumes, suggesting the move is driven by active participation rather than thin liquidity.

Investors note that meme coins often outperform when Bitcoin trades within a range, and traders seek faster-moving opportunities. DOGE’s breakout above a weeks-long descending trendline has shifted short-term bias in favor of buyers.

Holding above the $0.138–$0.140 area maintains the rebound, with $0.15 serving as the next key level of resistance. A sustained move above $0.15–$0.155 could open the door to a test of the declining 50-day average near $0.16. Failure to hold current levels, however, would likely send the price back toward the $0.13 base.

New Catalysts: Japan Expansion and Spot ETF

Beyond technical factors, potential ecosystem developments are adding to Dogecoin’s visibility.

Discussions around expanding DOGE-related initiatives in Japan, focused on real-world asset tokenization and regulated Web3 applications, highlight growing interest in compliant blockchain use cases within a tightly regulated market.

Related Reading: Ripple Calls XRPL Permissioned Domains A ‘Gamechanger’ As Go-Live Nears

In the U.S., a proposed spot Dogecoin ETF from 21Shares is also drawing attention. If launched, the product would track DOGE’s spot price without leverage or derivatives, giving traditional investors a regulated way to gain exposure. While ETF inflows are not guaranteed, the listing itself could increase market participation and liquidity.

Cover image from ChatGPT, DOGEUSD chart from Tradingview

The White House is still treating a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as an active priority, even as officials work through what executive director of the White House Crypto Council Patrick Witt described as the legal and bureaucratic questions that sit beneath an idea that, on paper, sounds simple.

US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve On ‘Priority List’

In an interview recorded at the White House for the Jan. 13 episode of Crypto In America, Witt told host Eleanor Terrett that interagency talks on implementing President Donald Trump’s executive order are ongoing and that the effort remains on the administration’s “priority list,” as Congress simultaneously moves toward its next steps on crypto market structure legislation later this week.

Asked how the White House is thinking about the reserve “these days,” Witt pointed to a process being driven not only by crypto policy staff, but by the operations machinery tasked with pushing executive orders through the federal government.

“We’ve had good engagement from the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy team, which is Steven Miller’s team […] [to] make sure that all of the executive orders that have been signed by the president — that the agencies are moving out on them,” Witt said. “The treasury team, commerce team is involved. […] It seems straightforward, but then you get into some […] obscure legal provisions and why this agency can’t do it, but actually this agency could.”

Witt framed the current phase as less about whether the administration wants the reserve, and more about ensuring it can move in a way that will withstand scrutiny. “We’re continuing to push on that. It is certainly still on the priority list right now,” he said, adding that “Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel […] has provided some good guidance on where we can […] move out on this executive order […] and do so in a legally sound way.”

The remarks come against the backdrop of Trump’s March 2025 executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a broader “digital asset stockpile,” which directed the government to treat existing federally held bitcoin as a long-term reserve asset while agencies were tasked to research ways for budget-neutral acquisition.

Witt also addressed a separate flashpoint that has circulated in Bitcoin circles in recent days: speculation that the Department of Justice had sold bitcoin linked to the Samourai Wallet case, potentially conflicting with the administration’s reserve posture.

“I think it was somewhat misreported,” Witt said, referencing the settlement language and what he characterized as standard legal drafting. “If you look at the settlement agreement, the legal documents, it sounds like […] the agency is going to take a certain action. […] In talking with DOJ, it was basically written in such a way where they preserve all of their options and their rights in those agreements, but those bitcoins have not been liquidated. Those digital assets have not been sold.”

Witt’s bottom line for viewers was that the headline allegation, that DOJ had “outright violated” the executive order, “is not a concern,” though he stressed that he could not say more beyond that.

At press time, BTC traded at $95,078.

Russia is preparing a transition in their crypto market regulations, with a new draft bill expected to reach the State Duma during the spring 2026 parliamentary session.

The proposal, led by Financial Markets Committee chairman Anatoly Aksakov, would remove digital assets from the country’s “special financial regulation” category and allow wider participation in crypto markets. While the move signals broader acceptance of crypto in everyday finance, it also introduces clear risk limits.

If approved, the legislation would represent one of Russia’s most significant policy changes regarding digital assets in recent years, reshaping both domestic trading and cross-border cryptocurrency use.

Retail Access Gets Clear Investment Limits

Under the draft bill, non-qualified investors, those who do not meet professional or institutional standards, would be allowed to buy cryptocurrencies worth up to 300,000 rubles (about $3,800). The cap is designed to mitigate financial risk for everyday users while still providing them with access to the market.

Qualified and professional participants, including financial firms, would not face similar restrictions. This two-tier system reflects the government’s approach to striking a balance between market access and investor protection.

Regulators are also considering a risk-awareness test for retail participants. The Bank of Russia previously proposed that non-qualified investors undergo a basic assessment before trading digital assets, ensuring they understand the potential volatility and associated financial risks.

Similarly, the central bank has reaffirmed its opposition to anonymous and privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. These assets would remain restricted under the new framework to maintain transparency and regulatory oversight.

Cross-Border Payments and Regulatory Implications

Beyond domestic trading, the bill could expand the use of crypto for international settlements. Aksakov has stated that the framework may enable Russian-issued digital tokens to be used in foreign markets, potentially facilitating cross-border payments.

This aligns with Russia’s earlier decision to legalize cryptocurrency for certain international transactions, following Western sanctions that limited access to traditional banking systems. Digital assets are increasingly viewed as an alternative tool for trade and financial transfers where conventional channels are restricted.

Officials have also discussed recognizing crypto mining as an export-related activity, given its impact on foreign currency inflows despite the lack of physical cross-border movement.

What It Means for Investors and the Market

For retail investors, the overhaul means regulated access to crypto within defined limits. The 300,000-ruble cap and potential testing requirements aim to reduce systemic and personal financial risk while still allowing participation in digital asset markets.

For the broader market, the change signals a shift toward integrating cryptocurrency into standard financial systems, rather than treating it as a niche or experimental asset class.

Russia is also advancing its digital ruble project, with a full rollout across state financial systems expected by September 2026. Together, these developments suggest a wider push toward modernizing the country’s digital financial infrastructure.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview

XRP has broken above the $2.10 price level, but on the surface, the chart is not comfortable. Red candles, falling sentiment, and growing chatter about weakness are still dominating conversation. 

According to a crypto analyst on X, that reaction may be exactly what larger players are counting on, especially because a closer look at on-chain data shows a very different story is quietly unfolding below the price action.

Price Weakness And Retail Capitulation On Center Stage

XRP started the year on a good note, with a break above $2 and then pushing as high as $2.41 before facing rejection. This rejection, in turn, caused the altcoin to fall to as low as $2.05. The analyst pointed to the loss of the $2.23 level during the breakdown as the moment retail confidence began to crack. 

As XRP’s price action trended lower to $2.05, fear-based selling increased, and this was shown on the charts that appeared increasingly bearish. From a short-term perspective, the move looked like confirmation that sellers quickly took control from buyers. 

Behind that visible decline, there are activities from institutional participants that do not show up on standard price charts. When retail participants were selling, XRP-related ETFs recorded a net inflow of $4.9 million in a single day. 

The lower panel of the chart below shows this divergence, showing total holdings of Spot XRP ETFs climbing steadily even as the price moved lower. This contrast can be described as a transfer of wealth in plain sight, showing how institutional buyers were using the pullback to add exposure when retail traders were selling.

Supply Shock Shows Quiet Accumulation

The message is that what looks like weakness on the surface may be setting the stage for a very different outcome once selling pressure from retail participants fades. 

However, another detail raised by the analyst is the movement of the token off exchanges. Roughly $22 million worth of tokens reportedly left trading platforms in the past 24 hours, reducing readily available supply. 

The pattern extends back to late 2025, when balances held on crypto exchanges began a steady decline. Data from Glassnode shows that total exchange-held XRP has now fallen below 2 billion tokens, which is a notable decline from levels above 4 billion XRP recorded around January 2025.

This reduction in exchange supply has not yet translated into an extended upside move in the altcoin’s price since it started correcting from its July all-time high, but it does point to quiet accumulation taking place below the surface. 

As some holders sell into weakness, a smaller group of market participants appears willing to absorb supply. That divergence is why several analysts have cautioned the XRP community against panic selling and getting shaken out.

As the Senate Banking Committee prepares to mark up the newly proposed draft of the crypto market structure bill, the DeFi Education Fund has released a list of amendments it strongly urges senators to oppose. 

In a recent post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the organization expressed concerns that the descriptions of the draft indicate potential harm to decentralized finance (DeFi) and could negatively impact software developers.

Red Flags Emerge From Crypto Market Structure Bill Draft 

In its message, the DeFi Education Fund emphasized the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the emerging DeFi landscape and called on senators to consider the far-reaching consequences of these proposed changes. 

Among the amendments highlighted were Amendment #42, proposed by Senators Reed and Kim, which seeks to authorize the Treasury to sanction smart contracts and centralized platforms involved in illicit activities. 

This amendment raised significant red flags for advocates who worry about its implications for innovation and operational flexibility within the decentralized finance ecosystem.

Another amendment of concern, Amendment #45 by Senator Reed, aims to create a specific definition for digital assets under the Bank Secrecy Act. 

Similarly, Amendment #47, also from Senator Reed, intends to remove a provision related to federal criminal offense concerning unlicensed money transmission. 

These changes, according to the DeFi Education Fund, loom dangerously over the operational landscape for developers and financial institutions that interact with digital assets.

Stifling DeFi Growth

Additionally, Senators Cortez Masto’s proposed amendments, specifically #72 and #73, aim to narrow the definition of non-controlling developers and expand the authority of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) alongside the Treasury for blockchain-enabled platforms. 

Amendments #74 and #75 further seek to strengthen existing laws related to money transmission and prohibit transactions involving unlawful DeFi protocols, which the Fund suggests could stifle the industry’s growth.

Amendment #104, proposed by crypto-skeptic Senator Elizabeth Warren, also drew attention by striking a key distribution carve-out for crypto offerings. 

This follows similar calls by Summer Mersinger, CEO of the Blockchain Association, who recently claimed that the “Big Bank Lobby” is pushing Congress to change key provisions of the already enacted GENIUS Act concerning stablecoin rewards, further highlighting the current state of the future of crypto in Congress. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

As the price of Ethereum slowly picks up pace following a brief rebound, a significant portion of the leading altcoin is currently being locked away in staking activity. Many institutions, such as Bitmine Immersion, have ventured into ETH staking, demonstrating the growing faith and interest in the investment method.

Bitmine’s Ethereum Staking Gets A Boost

In the burgeoning cryptocurrency market, Bitmine Immersion, a leading public company, continues to make decisive steps into the growing Ethereum ecosystem. Bitmine Immersion’s step into the ecosystem is evidenced by the company’s rising participation in ETH staking.

The public firm keeps extending its staking operations and reinforcing its commitment to on-chain yield generation following its latest move. This move was reported by Lookonchain, a popular on-chain data analytics platform, in a recent post on the X platform. Furthermore, the move coincides with staking’s continued development from a specialized tactic to a fundamental element of institutional cryptocurrency involvement, providing both recurrent benefits and a closer alignment with network security.

As seen in the report, the firm, led by industry leader and billionaire Tom Lee, has staked another 154,208 ETH valued at a staggering $478.77 million. Interestingly, the massive ETH staking was carried out within a 6-hour time frame, reflecting the firm’s robust conviction in the altcoin’s long-term prospects.

After the latest staking operation, the company has now staked a total of 1.344,224 ETH worth approximately $4.17 billion. By increasing its ETH stake, Bitmine Immersion is demonstrating its interest in Ethereum, from scaling upgrades to the ongoing expansion of DeFi and tokenized assets. 

SharpLink Deepens Exposure With Expanded Staking Efforts

Another company making waves in the Ethereum staking is SharpLink Gaming, a move that was initiated alongside the launch of its ETH treasury since June 2. According to a report from the firm’s official page on X, they recently generated over 500 ETH in staking rewards last week.

SharpLink ETH staking rewards underscore its expanded participation in on-chain yield and increasing interest in the altcoin and its ecosystem. This growth highlights a larger trend as more businesses are moving from passive holding to active network participation, making Ethereum staking a key component of their business strategy.

With this additional ETH, SharpLink’s total cumulative staking rewards are now sitting at 11,157 ETH since it was launched. By dedicating more of its ETH holdings to validators, the firm is indirectly contributing to Ethereum’s security and decentralization while reaping the benefits of a constant flow of rewards.

Prior to the development, SharpLink deployed $170 million in ETH with a first-of-its-kind enhanced yield on Linea. Specifically, this move integrates native ETH yield, restaking rewards from Eigencloud, and direct incentives from Linea and Etherfi within an institutional-grade qualified custodian with the help of Anchorage. SharpLink has declared this the most productive way to hold ETH with institutional-grade infrastructure.

Famous legal expert Bill Morgan has highlighted how Ripple was unable to promote XRP over the past few years due to its former legal battle against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

Why Ripple Was Unable To Promote XRP In The Past

In an X post, Bill Morgan stated that Ripple could not promote XRP or the XRP Ledger in the past for fear of being sued by the SEC for promoting and offering an unregistered security. He noted that despite that, the company was still sued by the regulator. The lawyer’s response followed XRPL stakeholder Wietse’s comments about how the XRPL has a track record of regularly being too early and also being too late. 

Wietse made this comment after XRP community member Crypto Eri pointed out that the XRP Ledger has supported tokenized gold since, though it hasn’t received enough publicity. Wietse added that the network is too early for people to notice and realize how great certain things are, and too late for others, causing too little, too late catch-up. 

However, Bill Morgan believes that XRP and XRP Ledger would have gotten more publicity if Ripple had been able to actively promote the altcoin in the past. He noted that during the SEC lawsuit, the crypto firm barely mentioned XRP. Meanwhile, the lawyer noted that Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptos were promoted with impunity and that former SEC official Bill Hinman effectively promoted ETH while in office.  

The lawyer added that, to this day, Ripple’s promotion of XRP and the XRP Ledger remains muted. He stated that the company does it by stealth under the cover of acquisitions and RLUSD. Morgan believes that this is nothing compared to how Michael Saylor actively talks about and promotes Bitcoin. 

XRP Is Still At The Centre Of Ripple’s Vision

Ripple has, in recent times, reiterated that XRP is at the centre of its vision. In his New Year’s message, the firm’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, stated that the altcoin has been and will continue to be the heartbeat of that vision. This came as he noted that their two major acquisitions last year, Ripple Prime and GTreasury, will greatly accelerate and expand their ability to deliver on their vision, which is to enable the Internet of Value. 

He added that building and using crypto infrastructure, updating their global financial plumbing, and rethinking legacy systems don’t happen overnight. As such, they will continue to take the long view of what crypto-based assets such as XRP and RLUSD can do rather than chasing cycles and hype. 

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $2.16, up over 5% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Комиссия по ценным бумагам и биржам США (SEC) завершила проверку приватного токена Zcash и направила создателям проекта уведомление, что не имеет претензий и не намерена кого-либо наказывать Zcash Foundation за выпуск ZEC.

United States President Donald Trump’s family-backed crypto firm has applied for a national trust bank charter, and one of the Senate’s most vocal financial critics wants regulators to stop the process until the President severs his financial ties to the venture.

According to filings and public statements, the firm aims to use the charter to issue and manage a dollar-pegged stablecoin called USD1, which has grown quickly since launch.

Warren Raises Conflict Concerns With The OCC

US Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a formal letter to Comptroller Jonathan Gould asking the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to pause its review of the application until Trump divests and fully eliminates financial links to World Liberty Financial, reports say.

The senator wrote that approving a federally chartered bank while the sitting President retains ties to the business could create serious government ethics problems.

The Company’s Plan And Its Scale

World Liberty Financial wants a national trust bank that would offer stablecoin issuance, custody and conversion services.

The stablecoin USD1 has reached more than $3.3 billion in circulation since its launch, a figure regulators and lawmakers are watching closely as the firm seeks federal oversight.

The move would place certain crypto activities under the same kind of supervision given to traditional trust banks.

Pushback And Political Risk

Reports note that Warren’s demand is rooted in a concern about the public’s trust in regulators. She asked the OCC for a written reply by January 20, highlighting the urgency of the matter for lawmakers who oversee banking rules.

Other Democrats have signaled similar worries about the optics and legal questions that could follow if a regulator reviews a bank linked to the incumbent President.

Industry Context And Reaction

Several crypto firms have recently sought national charters or conditional approvals, prompting a broader debate over how stablecoins should be regulated. Supporters of bank charters say federal oversight can protect customers and bring clarity.

Critics argue that when a highly political figure is connected to an applicant, extra caution is required so that regulatory independence is preserved. Reporting on this case has focused on both the bank application and the potential effect on trust in federal agencies.

Other Developments Around The Firm

World Liberty and related affiliates have been active on multiple fronts, including new product launches and international talks. Some outlets noted a newly announced partnership with external parties to explore broader payment uses for USD1, an effort that underlines how quickly the stablecoin has spread.

Featured image from Inc/Getty Images, chart from TradingView

With the latest bounce on Tuesday, the Bitcoin price has moved back above the $94,000 level, which appears to have reignited bullish sentiment across the market. A confirmed indication of the renewed bullish sentiment is the recent drop in selling pressure from investors and the futures market.

Futures Market Sellers Are Stepping Back

The cryptocurrency market is showing upward strength with Bitcoin reclaiming resistance levels that previously halted its upside attempts. While the price of BTC is trending upwards once again, selling pressure on the flagship asset from the futures market is declining sharply.

Following weeks of aggressive short positioning and high funding rates that exacerbated downward movements, indicators currently reflect a substantial cooling of sell-side activity. As outlined by Darkfost, a market expert and author at CryptoQuant, the selling pressure has now divided by 10 after reaching a monthly average peak of $489 million in the BTC Net Taker Volume metric.

This shift in sentiment is a sign that open interest is returning to normal, liquidations have slowed, and traders are reducing rather than increasing their negative wagers. Although this does not guarantee an immediate rise in BTC’s price, it alleviates one of the biggest headwinds that has affected prices in recent sessions.

The Bitcoin Net Taker Volume metric provides a net volume, which aids in determining who is controlling the futures order books. Furthermore, it is simpler to identify changes in trend and trading activity when the data is smoothed using a monthly average. Currently, Darkfost highlighted that sellers are still slightly dominating the orders, with over $51 million worth of trades. 

While the metric has not yet flipped into positive territory, the data shows that it is gradually approaching it. According to the expert, it is quite encouraging when traders begin to change their approach, especially considering the significant impact futures volumes have on price action.

It is worth noting that the BTC price action has experienced a stable trend since the decline in selling pressure kicked off. Thus, if Net Taker Volume were to turn positive once more, it would undoubtedly set off a bullish reversal for Bitcoin.

Is Bitcoin Volatility Heading For Rock Bottom?

As the bullish sentiment returns to the market, the ongoing volatility is starting to fade, leading to a period of low risk. Axel Adler Jr., another author at CryptoQuant, has shared an update revealing that BTC’s realized volatility has compressed significantly, reaching approximately 23%, a level that statistically rarely persists for long.

In the past, these compression regimens have resulted in a dramatic range expansion. With realized volatility now sitting at 23.6%, compression has reached a critical threshold, bringing BTC to a crucial stage that could play a role in its next move. 

At the time of writing, the price of BTC was trading at $94,890, indicating a more than 3% increase in the last 24 hours. Its trading volume has also increased significantly, rising by nearly 61% over the past day.

The broader crypto market is seeing an unexpected uptick, with the Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin prices among the top coins recording gains. This sharp increase in value follows the release of US economic data, which indicates positive trends in unemployment and consumer spending. Additionally, potential regulatory changes stemming from a proposed bill are also fueling market momentum and boosting investor confidence across the sector. 

Bitcoin, Ethereum, And Dogecoin Prices Rally Amid Positive Economic Data

After consolidating for days following their last rebounds, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin are surging again amid a series of recent US data reports. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers earlier on Tuesday, January 13, covering December 2025. 

The CPI report revealed that prices rose 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis last month, with the year-over-year all items index up 2.7% unadjustment. The shelter index increased 0.4% in December, making it the largest contributor to the overall rise. Meanwhile, food prices rose 0.7% both at home and away, and energy rose 0.3%. This increase in CPI data tends to affect cryptocurrency price movements, as moderate inflation often reduces fears of aggressive rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve (FED), encouraging investors to allocate funds to alternative stores of value like BTC and higher risk assets like ETH and DOGE. 

In addition to the CPI data, the US jobs report, released on January 9, showed that 50,000 jobs were added in December 2025. Although this was below the revised 56,000 in November and lower than the initial forecast of 60,000, it was still a significant and positive result for investors. While changes in job reports do not directly affect cryptocurrency price action, they can influence investor sentiment by increasing the likelihood of an interest rate cut. 

The crypto market has also been bullish ahead of the US Senate Banking Committee’s vote on the CLARITY Act on January 15, 2026. If passed, the bill is expected to provide clearer legal frameworks for digital assets in the US. Subsequently, the regulatory progress will reduce uncertainty and encourage more institutional participation in the crypto market.

Overall, the combination of the US CPI release, jobs report, and potential regulatory clarity is what’s driving the market. Traders are responding favorably to these developments, reflecting renewed optimism. 

How Much BTC, ETH, And DOGE Rose Today

Fueled by positive economic data, Bitcoin’s price has increased by over 3% so far today, rising from around $91,000 to over $94,000 at the time of writing. CoinMarketCap data also shows that Ethereum has seen even stronger gains, surging more than 6% to trade above $3,300. Meanwhile, Dogecoin has risen by over 6%, reaching $0.148.

Число случаев криптовалютнного мошенничества, основанного на имитации личности и дипфейках, выросло за год примерно на 1400%, сообщили аналитики Chainalysis.

Инвестиционный директор компании Bitwise Мэтт Хоуган (Matt Hougan) заявил, что цикл смягчения процентной ставки Федеральной резервной системы США (ФРС) может стать в 2026 году главным драйвером роста биткоина.

A top policy official at crypto firm Paradigm warned this week that a broad overhaul of US crypto rules could take years of agency work to finish.

Justin Slaughter, Paradigm’s vice president for regulatory affairs, said the law itself would only begin a longer process of writing dozens of detailed rules that agencies must draft, publish for comment, and finalize.

Lawmakers Unveil Draft Bill

On January 13, 2026, US senators released a draft bill meant to clarify which tokens are securities or commodities and to set who regulates spot crypto trading.

The draft would give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission authority over many spot markets and includes measures aimed at limiting how stablecoins are used to pay interest, among other provisions.

Rulemaking Could Stretch For Years

Slaughter pointed out that the bill would require about 45 separate, detailed rules to be written by regulators before its goals could be fully enforced.

That is a heavy technical lift. He compared the likely timeline to rules written after the Dodd-Frank law, which took roughly three to eight years to be finalized for many parts of the financial system.

Ok, so here are the main takeaways I have.

First, this bill is still missing a lot of things. There’s nothing at all on ethics (which is going to be a big hang-up for people) nor is there anything on a quorum requirement for the Commissions. The Dems won’t sign a bill that… https://t.co/2ckoCO6QlW

— Justin Slaughter (@JBSDC) January 14, 2026

That comparison matters because it shows how slow the work can be even when lawmakers act quickly. Agencies must draft proposals, take public comments, revise drafts, and then publish final rules. Each step can be delayed by legal challenges, staffing limits, or political shifts.

Industry Groups Prepare For Phased Change

Exchanges, banks, and stablecoin firms have already begun drafting compliance plans. Some industry players say they prefer the bill’s tilt toward the CFTC for spot oversight, believing it could ease certain market practices.

Others worry that long rulemaking windows will leave uncertainty for months, or even years, while firms try to follow shifting guidance.

What Could Slow Things Down

Among the likely bottlenecks: fights over who enforces which rules, debates on how decentralized finance fits under old statutes, and political turnover.

Slaughter warned that parts of the rulemaking might span two presidential terms before everything is settled. That would leave the sector operating under a mix of new guidance and legacy rules for a long time.

Lawyers And Regulators Step Into The Fray

Regulatory staff at the SEC and CFTC have already ramped up work on crypto issues. The SEC has signaled plans to update long-standing securities rules to better address tokenized instruments.

At the same time, the CFTC is preparing market-structure and custody guidance tied to its growing role. These agency moves will shape the final form of the technical rules required by whatever law, if any, becomes binding.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView